Rusk Thickr Hair Spray vs. Phytovolume Actif Volumizing Spray

Once again it's time for another exciting Haircare Face-Off!  In this battle, two popular volumizing hairsprays will be put to the test in a fierce head-to-head competition in order to determine which is the superior product.  As always, each product will be scored on a 1-10 scale in each of the following categories: Performance, Ingredients, Sensory Appeal/Packaging, and Value.

Let's take a closer look at the competitors.

Thickr is manufactured by Rusk, the company founded by legendary Scottish hairdresser Irvine Rusk and his wife Louise.  Although the duo sold their namesake line in 2003, the company is still going strong.  Thickr Hair Spray is an extra-hold spray that offers powerful texture and shine with added UV blockers to protect color-treated or highlighted hair.  According to Rusk, this hairspray is infused with lusterizers, conditioners, and moisturizers that provide body, texture, and supple touchable hold.

Phytovolume Actif Volumizing Spray is manufactured by Phyto, the company founded by Parisian hairdresser Patrick Ales in 1956.  According to Phyto, this product is a weightless spray that lifts hair at the roots and holds voluminous styles throughout the day. The addition of wheat proteins and amino acids plumps the diameter of each hair to impart body, creating fullness and bounce that’s never stiff.

Two thickening hairsprays manufactured by companies founded by two iconic stylists, one from Glasgow and one from Paris.  This should be quite an interesting edition of Haircare Face-Off!  So let's get this beauty battle under way!

Performance:  The Rusk spray delivered consistent results and did not disappoint.  I was very impressed that such a lightweight product could deliver such a firm amount of hold.  Thickr worked well on most hair types, but really excelled on medium-length fine hair.  Phytovolume is virtually weightless, as the manufacturer claims, but it definitely could've provides a little more "oomph".  It worked well on extremely fine hair, but it was a disappointment on every other hair type.  Phytovolume may be wonderful if you're on your way to going bald, but most women will find that this product just doesn't deliver the all-day volume as promised.  (Rusk: 9  Phyto: 6)

Ingredients:  The Rusk spray contains SD alcohol 40-B, which may sound scary, but it is a specially denatured alcohol which won't damage or dry out the hair.  Other major ingredients include phenyl trimethicone, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), dimethicone meadowfoamate, and benzophenonone-4, which is a powerful sunscreen.  Phytovolume Actif spray contains denatured alcohol, rosemary leaf water, nasturtium flower extract, wheat protein, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, and hydrolyzed keratin.  Unfortunately, the Phyto spray doesn't contain a sunscreen, and the wheat protein may not be a good idea for those with gluten allergies, but since Phytovolume does include botanical ingredients, this round will be scored as a draw. (Rusk: 7  Phyto: 7)

Sensory Appeal/Packaging:  Both sprays have a light and pleasant fragrance, although I found the Rusk fragrance to be more appealing.  In terms of packaging, both sprays were easy to dispense, with containers that fit comfortably in the hand.  When it comes to visual impact, however, the Rusk product is far and away the more attractive of the two.  Despite being a rather expensive product, the Phyto packaging looks cheap, tacky, and outdated- reminiscent of an anti-fungal foot spray you'd find in an old lady's medicine cabinet. (Rusk: 9  Phyto: 5)

Value:  The Phytovolume Actif spray is available in a 4.22 ounce can which retails for around $29.48, while the Rusk Thickr spray comes in a 10.6 ounce can, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $15.00.  The cost-per-ounce of the Rusk spray is roughly $1.41, while the cost-per-ounce of the Phyto spray is a whopping $6.98.  (Rusk: 10 Phyto: 2)

And the winner is....

Rusk Thickr, by a wide margin.  This one wasn't even close, folks.  Rusk Thickr works better, smells better, looks better, and costs about five times less than it's rival.  The result is a 35-20 victory for Rusk.  Rusk wins its Haircare face-Off! debut, while Phyto products fall to 0-3.